Perth weather: Worst of the wild, stormy weather still on its way for Perth and South West WA

Parts of the WA coast have been drenched in rain overnight, but the worst of the wild and windy weather bearing down on Perth and a huge chunk of WA’s most populated regions is still to hit, experts say.

The Bureau of Meteorology says a deepening and intense low-pressure system is continuing to close in on the State’s southwest on Sunday, bringing a significant burst of damaging to locally destructive winds to western and southern parts.

More than 30 calls have already been made to the SES for help across the metropolitan area, South West and Great Southern regions.

Busselton has had 50mm of rain since 9am Saturday, and nearby Manjimup has also been drenched with 43mm. About 19mm was in the gauges in Perth before dawn on Sunday.

Locally destructive wind gusts in excess of 125 km/h are expected over an area southwest of a line from Lancelin to Albany, including Perth, on Sunday afternoon and evening.

Residents have been urged to close their curtains and remain inside away from windows.

Isolated damaging wind gusts to 90 km/h are possible in showers and thunderstorms down the west coast on Sunday morning, before widespread damaging westerly winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with gusts to 110 km/h are likely to develop in the afternoon.

This weekend’s conditions have been labelled a once-in-five-year weather event.

The winds associated with the low-pressure system during Sunday afternoon, evening and Monday morning are expected to produce dangerous weather that is only seen once every three to five years in WA’s southwest, the bureau has warned.

The gale force westerlies are also whipping up dangerous surf and ocean conditions, with people warned to stay away from beaches and boats in areas including Albany, Bunbury, Esperance, Geraldton, Mandurah, Margaret River and Perth. River flooding is also possible.

The strong winds are expected to move inland on Monday, affecting the Goldfields and Eucla districts.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said the severe weather for areas from Kalbarri to Esperance, including Perth, and inland to Norseman, is expected to continue through until Monday morning.